Research Indicates Lifestyle Changes Could Prevent 40% of Cancer Deaths
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A new study conducted by the American Cancer Society, published in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, suggested that substantial reductions in cancer cases and deaths could be achieved through lifestyle changes. The study highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight, limiting alcohol consumption, eating a healthy diet, and being physically active.
For the study, researchers examined data from 2019, focusing on 30 types of cancer and 18 modifiable risk factors such as smoking and body weight. Among these, cigarette smoking was identified as the leading risk factor, contributing to nearly 20% of all cancer cases and 30% of all cancer deaths. The study found that lifestyle factors were linked to more than 700,000 new cancer cases and over 262,000 deaths among adults aged 30 and older.
The study identified the top ten risk factors for cancer, which include:
Smoking: Cigarette smoking remains the leading contributor to cancer cases and deaths in both men and women. Despite being a modifiable risk factor, the uptake of recommended lung cancer screenings among high-risk individuals remains low.
Bodyweight: Excess body weight was responsible for nearly 7%–8% of all cancer cases and deaths in the United States. Maintaining a healthy body weight is crucial for cancer prevention.
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